The Orlando Film Festival begins tonight and it will be showcasing numerous titles and genres, coming from the world of independent film. Filmmakers are bringing their products from all over the world. From short films to the traditional feature length, along with animations and documentaries. This film festival is looking to provide something for everyone.

A couple of features on the docket in Black, White and Blues & China: The Rebirth of an Empire, are highly recommended. Having seen both these flicks a few months back, festival attendees struggling to figure out which flicks to choose would be best served to make seek out these two.

Black, White and Blues is scheduled to screen on Friday at 7:45pm at The Plaza Cinema Café in downtown Orlando. The flick directed by Mario Van Peebles, stars Michael Clarke Duncan and Morgan Simpson in this character drama about redemption. Audiences have lauded the excellent soundtrack and the witty and inspiring performances by the two leads. Here’s an article with more insight on the flick along with a micro-review from the event attended in September. (More info in the links below as well)

China: The Rebirth of an Empire is a documentary that was shot all over the continent of Asia. Brothers Jesse and Jeremy Veverka probe how the re-emergence of China as superpower, impacts the surrounding areas and the rest of the world. Jesse and Jeremy are both originally from Ithaca, NY but currently reside overseas. In making this documentary, they traveled all over the place from Beijing to Afghanistan. What they brought back is a perspective from locals and experts that may shock the western world.

It goes without saying that this documentary is provocative. It has the ability to get one angry as well as reflective. What the Veverka brothers do well here is present both sides of the story. One must have patience when watching this because the first half is fairly one-sided. Then the other argument is fused into the piece and by the end credits, the viewer will be pondering what side of the proverbial coin they’re on. A mark of any well-produced documentary. Overall, this piece explores the question of when China will replace America as the world’s supreme power and how the new dominant nation will wield its new found power. Will China evolve into a democracy? Or will China bully its surrounding neighbors?

China: The Rebirth of an Empire will be screening on Friday at 1pm and then again on Sunday at 5pm.

The Orlando Film Festival runs through Sunday and all the details can be found by clicking on the links above. If you are attending this year, one should definitely make Black, White and Blues and China: The Rebirth of an Empire a part of your film-fest experience.